Paul A. Durand

"South Hadley, Paul A. Durand died Monday, September 8, 2008 with his loving family by his side. Born in Holyoke on May 3, 1939, he was the son of the late Theodore and Theresa (Joyal) Durand. He grew up in Holyoke before moving to South Hadley where he lived for the past forty years. He served for six years in the Army National Guard. He was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church in South Hadley. Paul worked for forty years for U.S. Tsubaki, formerly Acme Chain, before retiring in 2002. He played baseball for 8 years with the Holyoke Allies baseball team during his youth. He was a member of the Holyoke Elks and was a huge sports fan of the Red Sox, Patriots and the UCONN Women's Basketball Team. Paul enjoyed golfing and participated in two golf leagues at The Ledges Golf Course. His greatest passion was the time spent with his family and friends. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 44 years, Kathy (Moore) Durand, his three children, Kevin of Cambridge, MA, Brian and his partner Ben Newcomb of Brattleboro, VT, and Kathleen Scott and her husband Charles of South Hadley along with his five grandchildren, Kyle and Kristen Durand, and Zachery, Alexis and Isabelle Scott. His sisters, Lucille Dietrich of Chicopee and Jeanne Brunetti of North Carolina as well as his brother Gerald of Chicopee also survive him. His brothers Theodore and Roland predeceased him. He leaves many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 12 at 8:45 a.m. at the Beers and Story South Hadley Funeral Home followed by a Mass at St. Patrick's Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery. Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7295. "